The Love Challenge

Howdy bloggers!
I doubt this is an original idea, but I wanted to share something I've been doing in my Bible reading time the past few days.  I'll call it The Love Challenge.  I opened my Bible to the concordance and noticed (as you probably have) that the longest list of verses is for the word "love".  And because of statements from the Word such as "God is love" "the greatest of these is love" "and over all these virtues put on love," I get a pretty good idea that love is very important.  For God so loved- we've all heard- is actually an astronomical statement because of what follows- the world. Meaning us.  God LOVED us, while we were yet sinners.  His death for our sins illustrates this concept. 
And that is some reasons why I wanted to dig deeper into the Word's mentions of love. Here we go!
1. Open your Bible to the condordance in the back.
2. Find the word "love".
3. Read the first verse listed and enough verses before and after it to understand the context.
4. Repeat (reading the next verse) at each study time!
I hope some of you will try this.  I'm really moved by learning about love throughout the Bible!

Happy 4th/Me lately

Happy 4th!
Praise God for freedom.  We wouldn't be free physically or spiritually without Him!  I love summer holidays. Ice cream, hot dogs, swimming, hanging out- have I mentioned how much I adore summer?! (Despite my complaints about this heat, of course.)
What I'm doing lately (no particular order):
1. Mourning the break-up of one of my FAVORITE bands, Revive. But they feel God's calling them to different pursuits, so I'll be okay with it. Eventually :').
2. Reading the letters to the churches. Mostly 1-2 Peter, James, Collosians.  What has helped me SO much with daily Bible reading has been journaling, which I used to be OBSESSED with. Now I just jot down some thoughts and prayers, read something that speaks to me, and write down a verse in my journal. Helps me look back to verses that brought me light on certain days.
3. Really wanting to help Arkansas' tornado victims.  Went to Denning, AR last friday with friends/friend's church and helped cleanup a lady's house/land. It's pretty devastating, and makes me ask- how would I act if it was me? My family who lost everything? :/
4. Enjoying the 4th! Rode, swam, and ate ice cream already. haha:).
5. Reading Green by Ted Dekker.  Black, Red, and White were SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOODDDDDD! Everyone musttttt read them! No joke. They will change your views on life, sacrifice, and Jesus crazily.
6. Listening to Control, Abandon's album.  Love me some Christian pop.  Metal head brother doesn't get it though ;). Favorite songs, Help and Under Fire.
7. Learning "East to West" by Casting Crowns on piano. Love the key of E now. LOL music freak ;).
8. Missing friends who don't live in the same state as me ://///. Ya'll should read this blog of my amazingggg friend. http://everythingforhim1039.blogspot.com/
What are your lately's?~His love, E

Sweet Sixteen/Soul Surfer/Anthem Lights

So this is an uber late birthday post (10 days late...)... but better late than never? Maybe?

I'm pretty extremely stinkin' excited to be 16. Howeverrrrr, it's not getting me very far yet, mostly due to the fact that I'm too lazy to read the driver's license getting book.   I had such a fun birthday hanging with my family! And my birthday party was so cool! It was makeover themed, so me and my gals did each other's makeup and hair (which probably sounds lame, but we had fun :D), then we went and saw SOUL SURFER!!!! (emphasis on awesomeness)

I had reallllllllyyyy wanted to blog after the first time I saw Soul Surfer (yes...I did see it twice...) but the internet was out and then I forgot. Typical.  HOWEVER, I'm now going to rave its beauties.

The fact it's a true story (of Bethany Hamilton) is definitely the coolest part. I don't want to blow the plot for anyone who hasn't seen it yet (and anyone who hasn't simply MUST), but the fact that a girl could overcome, through "Christ who strengthens me," SO much adversity is just so inspiring to me!  Remembering the movie drives me to pursue my faith and my dreams with greater passion.

Carrie Underwood, who plays Bethany's youth leader, did fantastic, which just made the movie even better.  I also loved how the movie wasn't "preachy" or anything like that, yet characters quoted Bible verses and prayed, etc., so they gave God the glory.

So yeah. Soul Surfer rocks :).

Next Random Subject: ANTHEM LIGHTS' album came out on Tuesday! I didn't get it til Thursday...but oh well it was worth the wait! It's seriously my favorite cd in a good while. Super catchy with great lyrics, and they are all so talented.  I'd like to write an album review... what do ya'll think? Leave me a comment :). 

When I bought the cd on thurday, I (naturally) twittered, and got another stinkin' awesome surprise:

hehe I was very excited :D:D.

I guess that is all for now. :) God bless you bloggers!

~Zephaniah 3:17

My Last Day as a 15-year-old

So, today was the very last day I lived at the age of 15!!

That sounds sad somehow. I was just thinking about and praying that this next year in front of me will not be the same as last year.  I know, because I have seen and heard, that 16 can be a hard year.  A year of scary choices and fears.  But I want it to be a year of new beginings...

After a less than perfect conversation on a less than perfect night in this less than perfect world, my brother and I both met the same conclusion--we NEED God to help us straighten up.  I needed to re-amp my faith and be forgiven of the apathy and evil I was not exactly promoting... but 100% tolerating, which is sin. 

And even if I'm still going to fall, I want to know that "He knows the plans He has for me--to prosper me and not to harm me."  With that promise, I need not doubt salvation, fall into fear, sink in the mire of sinful desire, fight with carnall wants, or any sin!  I need only to love Him. Alone. that's legit it! Love Him.

Anyhow, my day was pretty average--with less than average moments.  Fed chickens, did school, then went on a picnic with my sister.  She showed me her favorite spots and it was a wonderful thing to do with her! Moved mentioned chickens.  Rode.  Read my manual for my written driver's test.  Felt convicted [while riding] to tell God something--and I mean it.  "I want to want salvation for real now, God--I want it for YOU. not to be safe. YOU".  Still comprehending that. crazy.

this post was slightly scatterbrained.  Something else Im leaving behind this year is feeling obligated to "stuff God" into everything.  I'm wanting now to NEED to have Him here.  In my blog...and my life. Again deeply crazy.  Will you, blog reader, hold me to this?  I'm ready to love.  I don't get it, but all I desperately need is love.

Songs

Some songs I really like right now:
"You Love Me Anyway" Sidewalk Prophets (seeing them on WJ this year, I'd heard this song live twice. But i never listened to what it was saying. The bridge is so crazy true.)

 

"Can't Shut Up" Anthem Lights (this song is the reason I like Anthem Lights now)

 

"Can't Get Over You" Anthem Lights (This is such a worshipful song. I like playing it on the piano/guitar :D)

 

"More" Matthew West. (This song helped me through a tough time a few weeks ago. God knows just when I need to turn on the radio and be touched.)

 "Freedom Into Slavery" Yellow Cavalier (Now known as Anthem Lights)

 

what are your favorites this week?

It's the little happy moments...

Yes I was very excited by this...So, if you read two blogs ago, you'd know that one of my new favorite bands is Anthem Lights.  Thus, I was pretty happy when I got a reply from the band's twitter :).  Just wanted to share my random exciting-ness.

I know, I am weird. :)

2 Timothy 2:22

For church tomorrow, my youth group is sharing verses with the main congregation... this what I'm planning on saying, God-willing. 

2 Timothy 2:22 says “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  Christianity—becoming
like Christ—is not existence.  It is a direction, seeking God.  This verse tells us to, as
Christian in the book Pilgrim’s Progress, flee—or leave or shun—evil desires
of the past and pursue—or chase or follow—righteousness, peace, love, and faith.  This verse does not say to think about these Godly characteristics, or want to have them, or even pray about them (though that is a good thing to do).  Rather, it commands an action.  Run towards these things…along
with other seeking Christians.  We need fellowship desperately.  We need companions like Faithful was in Pilgrim’s Progress, who helped Christian press on when he had given up.  This fellowship, again, is to be with those who seek God out a pure heart.
Uncorrupted and unselfish seeking of God is a long, straight, difficult, worthwhile, and pure path.  And 2 Timothy 2:22 shows that’s precisely what road we are called to!

What do you think about 2 Timothy 2?